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Contrasting Cooking Colleges
By now you should have made a decision regarding the type of degree that you plan to earn, and if you want to enroll in a private or a public institute. Since there are numerous culinary arts colleges in the Commack area and across the United States, you will want to develop a checklist of essential qualifiers so that you can start narrowing your options. Some obvious qualifiers, for instance location and cost are an excellent place to begin. But choosing a school because it is the nearest or the least expensive is not the ideal way to make a decision regarding your education. There are other considerations, for example reputation and accreditation that you must review as well. Therefore, below are some key areas that you must investigate for every school as you compare and contrast them and make your ultimate choice.
Accreditation. It's essential that the cooking school you choose has some form of accreditation from either a regional or a national agency. As previously stated, the accrediting authority should be a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged organization, for instance the American Culinary Federation (ACF). ACF accredited schools have passed a comprehensive review pertaining to their course of study, instructors and facilities. Therefore not only does accreditation help ascertain that you will receive quality training, but it may also assist in securing a student loan or financial assistance which are often not available for non-accredited schools.
Age. Newer schools generally have the benefit of having modern equipment and facilities. However, they may not have been in operation long enough to acquire an accreditation or to cultivate a reputation. Conversely, more established schools may still be using their original, dated equipment, but have established a lengthy history of success and received one or more accreditations. Also, the much more a school has operated, the more alumni the school can solicit for its job placement program. Obviously there is some give and take dependent on the age of the cooking schools. And older, more highly regarded schools typically modernize their equipment and facilities. The significant takeaway is that in the best case scenario, your school of choice will have an exceptional reputation, accreditation and a state-of-the-art facility with modern equipment.
Job Placement Rates. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the cooking programs you are reviewing. Low graduation rates are indications that numerous students were dissatisfied with either the colleges or the courses and quit before graduating. They can also signify that the teachers were not competent to teach the curriculum. Ask the schools to provide their job placement rates also. If a school has a high job placement rate, it will help verify that it has a great or outstanding reputation within the cooking field, as well as a large network of professional relationships. Be suspicious of any school that will not supply this information.
Location. The culinary college that you enroll in should be within driving distance of your Commack home, unless you are able to move. You may look into attending school online, but you would still have to travel for your externship training. On the other hand, maybe you have decided to go to a particular culinary arts institute located in a different state due to its reputation and courses offered. It would be a wise decision to visit the facility before enrolling, to make certain that you are satisfied with the area and your potential living conditions. Look over the training facilities personally to make certain they are modern and that the equipment is state of the art. Keep in mind also that a number of schools focus their job assistance programs within their regional communities, so choose a location where you will enjoy working.
Class Sizes. The ideal method to learn how to cook is with plenty of personalized training. If the cooking program you enroll in has larger classes, you will most likely receive little personal attention from the teachers. The best way to assess the communication and interaction between instructors and students is to attend a few of the classes. Ask some of the students what their experience has been. Ascertain if they are happy with the level of attention they get in class as well as the overall training. Also, talk with a few of the instructors and learn what their teaching approaches are as well as their backgrounds and credentials.
Flexible Class Schedules. There is no sense in enrolling in a culinary arts program if you will be unable to attend the classes. So make certain that the school you choose offers class scheduling that can accommodate your active lifestyle. If you can only attend in the evening or on weekends near Commack NY due to your job schedule, check that the school you pick offers either weekend or evening classes. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, verify that the culinary college has a part-time alternative. Also, find out what the make-up protocol is if you have to miss a class due to work, family or other responsibilities.
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